Measures aimed at conserving water and improving conservation practices across all of National Commercial Bank's (NCB) facilities led to savings of roughly 41,000 M³ in 2012.

The measures are part of NCB's five-year environmental plan, which aims to reduce the bank's carbon footprint by setting ambitious medium-term targets for the conservation of electricity, paper and water across its network.

NCB is working to reduce the amount of water used in its facilities, as well as encourage the use of reusable water containers, water coolers and tap water. At the same time the bank is intensifying its efforts to promote environmental awareness and responsibility within its sphere of influence.

For instance, it is encouraging large suppliers to conserve water by including criteria for water consumption in contracts and increasing the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products to reduce the amount of hazardous substances in waste water.

In 2011, the bank installed water-saving nozzles in more than 268 branches. It has also installed water consumption meters in 30 branches, and developed a method for measuring and reporting consumption. This will help with setting water efficiency targets in the coming years.

Once a month, NCB inspects its facilities to detect abnormalities in water usage. In one instance, the inspections revealed a leak in the water tank in the eastern region's main building. After the leak was repaired, the building's consumption was monitored.

When the NCB talent acquisition and recruitment team relocated to the bank's training centre in 2012, NCB offset the increased demand for water by replacing all conventional taps in the building with low-flow auto-sensor faucets.

Together, monthly inspections and the ongoing replacement of traditional taps with those that are more efficient and longer-lasting reduced water consumption throughout the bank's network from 211,000 M³ in 2011 to 169,600 M³ in 2012.

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